Tiger 800 owner gets an RE Interceptor 650 for 1.5 months; Here's how!

I initially got a KTM 390 Adventure but had to exchange it thanks to the 855 mm seat height.

BHPian MileCruncher recently shared this with other enthusiasts:

Over the last couple of weeks, the Tiger had been showing " Battery Low" signal while running. It would start but the sign would come while running. Initial diagnosis at a multi brand superbike garage was that battery drained. However, I wasn't exactly satisfied and I had an inkling that it was something more.

Bike went to Triumph service and turns out that the Alternator had gone kaput delivering just about 12V. Hence adequate voltage wasn't passing through R&R unit and result battery losing juice while riding. This diagnosis also meant that part needed to be ordered. From UK. Typical order time of 6-7 weeks. I was given the option of procuring parts myself and giving it to them, incase that worked out cheaper or faster. I was pleasantly surprised to realise that part prices quoted in India (after duty +GST) is lesser than part prices in UK or EU. Plus you add Duty & Freight and it goes significantly higher. So it was decided by me, post some serious consultation with myself, that let the Triumph guys only procure all parts.

Two-wheels is an addiction that is hard to get rid off! Once you are sucked in, you are a goner. Sanity and logic takes a backseat and passion rides high.

This also meant, that I will be bike-less for 1.5 months during monsoon! That was like oxygen being sucked out of me!

I described my predicament to the Shaman Triumph service head, Atul Kamath, a passionate fellow biker. He rides a Tiger 800 while maintaining a pristine RD 350. Only a fellow biker can understand this predicament and he suggested what I was contemplating.

That is to buy a used Hero Xpulse from OLX!

I seriously started exploring that from a financial as well as domestic turbulence aspect. While the 1st test would have passed, wasn't so sure of passing the 2nd. Then I thought of RE rentals. Rached to the folks listed in Mumbai. While the Himalayan 450 wasn't immediately available as it had gone out, they offered 390 Adventure. This was to be a month's rental.

This also gave me a chance to test out the ADV 390 if I was to get it as part of my garage. The bike got delivered the very day of booking and I rode it for exactly 4 hours. The 855mm meant I was barely tiptoeing and it was a disaster waiting to happen. Thankfully, they had a Interceptor 650 available and were happy to swap it with the ADV 390.

So now I have a Interceptor 650 as my ride for the next month or so. Ghats here I come!

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